2026 Week 6 College Football Predictions for Every Game

Ready or not, Week 6 is sending dozens of college football teams to the halfway mark of the 2026 regular season.

Within the AP Top 25 alone, 14 programs will have played their sixth game of the campaign after Saturday's slate ends. Few contenders have genuine must-win games, yet that moment is drawing ever closer.

Several teams may get that kind of feeling in Week 6, though.

Indiana and Nebraska are bracing for a battle of the unbeatens as Oregon hosts undefeated UCLA. Oklahoma and Texas are set to renew their rivalry. Georgia and Alabama will headline the prime-time showdown.

Rankings are based on the AP Top 25.

Top Matchups for Week 6

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Gunner Stockton

No. 7 Indiana (5-0) at Nebraska (5-0), Noon ET

Are you for real, Nebraska? Although the Huskers have played a soft schedule so far, they've left no doubt with every victory by 18-plus points. Indiana is still the pick, given IU's balance and the unconscionable notion of doubting Curt Cignetti until proven otherwise. But the Huskers are intriguing.

Prediction: Indiana 35, Nebraska 26

No. 1 Texas (4-0) vs. Oklahoma (2-2), 3:30 p.m. (in Dallas)

Is it possible that an extra week to prepare for a bitter rivalry has ignited the Oklahoma offense? Is that something I'm willing to project? Nope! Short of that, it would take a Herculean effort from OU's defense to spring this upset.

Prediction: Texas 27, Oklahoma 13

No. 21 UCLA (4-0) at No. 13 Oregon (3-1), 3:30 p.m.

Oh, hey, UCLA—are you for real? First-year coach Bob Chesney, who like Cignetti arrived from James Madison, has overseen an exciting 4-0 start for the Bruins. However, a trip to Eugene is clearly UCLA's toughest early test of the season. I'm inclined to believe in Oregon's overall talent at home, though a hyper-efficient UCLA rushing attack is capable of being a serious nuisance.

Prediction: Oregon 37, UCLA 30

No. 10 LSU (4-1) at Kentucky (4-1), 7 p.m.

Kentucky is fascinating. After taking a halftime lead over Alabama, UK stumbled in the second half at home and lost a blowout. Then it controlled the second half on the road against Texas A&M for an unimpressive upset, yet needed a big comeback to beat a flailing South Carolina team. LSU is the safe pick. I'll lean there, thanks to its sturdy defense. Kentucky should be annoying, nevertheless.

Prediction: LSU 30, Kentucky 20

No. 2 Georgia (5-0) at No. 6 Alabama (5-0), 7:30 p.m.

In both 2024 and 2025, Alabama pulled out a tight regular-season win over Georgia. That trend may continue as Bama's offense begins to surge and gets the benefit of home-field advantage on Saturday. (I suspect UGA may find a chance for revenge later in the SEC Championship Game or College Football Playoff, though.)

Prediction: Alabama 31, Georgia 27

Weekday Games

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Demond Williams Jr.

No. 20 Iowa (4-1) at Washington (3-2), Friday, 9 p.m. ET

Since neither offense has looked all that dangerous, it'll probably be a low-scoring game in Seattle. Those types of matchups tend to hinge on the turnover margin. Washington has already forced nine takeaways this season. Iowa is undoubtedly a threat, but a road setback would be unsurprising.

Prediction: Washington 23, Iowa 19

Jacksonville State (3-2) at Kennesaw State (1-3), Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Prediction: Kennesaw State 28, Jax State 27

New Mexico State (2-3) at Florida International (2-2), Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: FIU 30, NMSU 23

Sam Houston (1-3) at Liberty (4-1), Thursday, 7 p.m.
Prediction: Liberty 31, Sam Houston 14

Missouri State (1-3) at Western Kentucky (1-4), Thursday, 7 p.m.
Prediction: WKU 33, Missouri State 23

South Florida (4-1) at UTSA (4-1), Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: UTSA 30, USF 28

South Alabama (3-2) at Arkansas State (2-3), Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: Arkansas State 34, South Alabama 31

Florida State (3-2) at Louisville (3-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: Louisville 36, FSU 29

Washington State (1-4) at Utah State (1-4), Friday, 9 p.m.
Prediction: Utah State 26, Washington State 23

Wyoming (2-3) at San Jose State (3-2), Friday, 9 p.m.
Prediction: San Jose State 27, Wyoming 17

Iowa State (3-2) at No. 8 BYU (4-0), Friday, 10:15 p.m.
Prediction: BYU 24, Iowa State 19

Saturday Early Games

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Austin Simmons

Texas A&M (3-2) at No. 14 Missouri (4-1), Noon ET

What a perfectly nonsensical result it'd be for Texas A&M to follow two recent, ugly losses with a win on the road against a Missouri team coming off a massive upset of Florida. That's just college football. Full disclosure: Not confident about it! But call it a gut feeling that A&M's passing game finally breaks out at Mizzou.

Prediction: Texas A&M 28, Missouri 24

North Carolina (2-2) at No. 25 Pitt (5-0), Noon

The good news is Pitt has cracked the AP Top 25! The bad news is that the ascent came on the heels of losing star QB Mason Heintschel (knee) for the season. Pitt should be able to handle UNC on the strength of its rushing attack and defense, but we'll be closely watching the starting debut of Holden Geriner.

Prediction: Pitt 24, UNC 16

UCF (3-2) at No. 18 Oklahoma State (3-1), Noon
Prediction: Oklahoma State 31, UCF 20

Arizona (4-1) at West Virginia (3-2), Noon
Prediction: Arizona 36, West Virginia 30

Wake Forest (4-1) at North Carolina State (3-2), Noon
Prediction: Wake Forest 34, NC State 24

Tulane (2-2) at Army (2-2), Noon
Prediction: Tulane 24, Army 21

Sacramento State (1-4) at Bowling Green (1-4), Noon
Prediction: BGSU 27, Sac State 20

Ball State (1-4) at Northwestern (3-1), 12:30 p.m.
Prediction: Northwestern 41, Ball State 10

South Carolina (2-3) at No. 16 Florida (4-1), 12:45 p.m.
Prediction: Florida 38, South Carolina 21

Old Dominion (1-4) at Appalachian State (3-1), 1 p.m.
Prediction: App State 31, ODU 17

Miami (Ohio) (2-3) at Massachusetts (4-1), 2 p.m.
Prediction: Miami 24, UMass 22

Saturday Afternoon Games

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Jordan Faison

Stanford (2-3) at No. 3 Notre Dame (5-0), 3:30 p.m. ET

Fully expecting a blowout here. Stanford won at home against Georgia Tech but otherwise didn't stay within 28 points of Miami, Duke or Wake Forest—the last of which just destroyed the Cardinals 57-3. The key story is Notre Dame playing its final tune-up with a showdown at BYU looming next week.

Prediction: Notre Dame 52, Stanford 10

No. 22 Houston (4-1) at Kansas State (3-1), 3:30 p.m. ET

Houston and Kansas State have Big 12 title dreams, yet both programs have suffered losses early in league play. The loser of this clash will be hard-pressed to recover in the conference standings. Houston's run defense, which is yielding a mere 2.6 yards per carry, may be the decisive piece in a physical game.

Prediction: Houston 27, Kansas State 22

No. 9 Ole Miss (3-1) at Vanderbilt (3-2), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Ole Miss 41, Vandy 27

Duke (4-0) at Georgia Tech (1-3), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Duke 26, Georgia Tech 20

Virginia Tech (4-1) at Cal (2-3), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 30, Cal 27

Illinois (2-3) at Michigan State (2-3), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Michigan State 24, Illinois 20

Charlotte (0-5) at North Texas (3-2), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: North Texas 45, Charlotte 14

Tulsa (3-2) at Navy (1-3), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Tulsa 27, Navy 21

Eastern Michigan (3-3) at Akron (1-4), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: EMU 31, Akron 20

Buffalo (2-3) at Toledo (4-1), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Toledo 38, Buffalo 17

Central Michigan (3-2) at Ohio (3-2), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Ohio 26, CMU 23

Kent State (2-3) at Western Michigan (3-2), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: WMU 28, Kent State 17

Connecticut (2-3) at Temple (2-3), 3:45 p.m.
Prediction: UConn 27, Temple 24

Rice (1-4) at East Carolina (2-2), 4 p.m.
Prediction: East Carolina 31, Rice 20

Maryland (2-3) at No. 5 Ohio State (4-1), 4:15 p.m.
Prediction: Ohio State 47, Maryland 14

No. 15 Tennessee (4-1) at Arkansas (2-3), 4:15 p.m.
Prediction: Tennessee 34, Arkansas 13

Saturday Evening Games

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No. 19 USC (5-1) at Penn State (3-2), 7:30 p.m. ET

After losing in blowout fashion at Northwestern, Penn State is... favored? That's presumably in part because USC's defense has been generally unimpressive so far, though the unit limited Washington to 319 yards and 21 points last week. Still, a cross-country trip into a loud environment—Penn State is seeking its seventh consecutive win during its White Out—is a bad combo for USC.

Prediction: Penn State 24, USC 23

No. 23 Boise State (4-1) at Fresno State (4-1), 10:30 p.m. ET

The final tilt on Saturday's slate doubles as a massive game in the Group of Six. On paper, it depends on Fresno's run defense. Rice scampered for a staggering 344 yards, but Washington State mustered just 30. Which version shows up against a strong Boise rushing attack? I'll take the more consistent unit.

Prediction: Boise State 27, Fresno State 24

San Diego State (2-3) at Oregon State (3-2), 6 p.m.
Prediction: Oregon State 30, SDSU 20

UAB (3-2) at Memphis (4-1), 7 p.m.
Prediction: Memphis 38, UAB 21

Nevada (1-3) at UTEP (1-4), 7 p.m.
Prediction: Nevada 31, UTEP 17

North Dakota State (5-0) at UNLV (3-2), 7 p.m.
Prediction: NDSU 27, UNLV 23

Coastal Carolina (1-4) at Marshall (3-2), 7 p.m.
Prediction: Marshall 33, Coastal Carolina 27

Syracuse (2-2) at Virginia (3-2), 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: Virginia 31, Syracuse 20

Air Force (3-1) at Northern Illinois (0-4), 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: Air Force 28, NIU 16

James Madison (5-0) at Georgia Southern (2-3), 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: JMU 34, Georgia Southern 24

Louisiana (4-1) at Louisiana Tech (2-2), 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: La Tech 29, Louisiana 23

Minnesota (4-1) at Purdue (2-3), 8 p.m.
Prediction: Minnesota 28, Purdue 21

Hawaii (1-4) at Arizona State (2-2), 9:30 p.m.
Prediction: ASU 34, Hawaii 17

Kansas (2-2) at No. 12 Utah (4-0), 10:15 p.m.
Prediction: Utah 35, Kansas 24